Westmoreland Residents Urged to Prioritise Preventive Health Measures

Residents of Westmoreland are being encouraged to prioritise preventive health measures, including screening for colorectal cancer and adopting healthier dietary habits as part of efforts to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the parish.

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, made the call while addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation meeting in Savanna-la-Mar, on March 12.

She pointed out that March is being observed as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, noting that the disease remains a major health concern in the parish.

“Colorectal cancer is our number-three cancer in the parish and more and more we are seeing too many persons who have been diagnosed, some at an advanced stage, with colorectal cancer,” Dr. Graham said.

She urged residents not to ignore symptoms that could indicate the disease.

“If there’s a change in your bowel habit, if you are seeing blood in your stool, then you really need to have that checked out and don’t assume that it’s haemorrhoids or piles as we call it or something else that’s causing it; it can be cancer,” she warned.

Dr. Graham recommended that persons aged 45 years and older undergo annual screening as a preventive measure.

“We encourage persons who are 45 years old and over to do an annual stool test to check for blood; that’s the starting point. If there’s something abnormal there, then your healthcare provider will do additional investigations,” she underscored.

The Medical Officer of Health also highlighted the importance of healthy nutrition, noting that March includes several health observances that emphasise disease prevention through lifestyle changes.

Dr. Graham pointed out that Dietetics and Nutrition Professionals Week is being observed under the theme ‘Nourishing Resilience: Cultivating Wellness through Sustainable Nutrition’.

She said the theme underscores the need for communities to maintain good nutrition even during challenging periods.

She encouraged residents to explore container gardening as a practical way to improve access to healthy foods.

“You don’t need a backyard to garden. You can garden in a container and I see more persons now are doing their garden and we want to encourage more of that, because the more [things] you grow is the less you have to buy,” she said.

Dr. Graham added that maintaining good nutrition also involves reducing salt intake and increasing water consumption, which help to preserve kidney health and prevent chronic illnesses.